Functional restoration versus outpatient physical training in chronic low back pain - A randomized comparative study

Study Design. A randomized parallel-group comparative trial with a 1-year f ollow-up period was performed. Objective. To compare the effect of a comprehensive functional restoration program involving intensive physical training, ergonomic training, and beha vioral support (39 hours per week for 3 weeks) with the effect of outpatien t intensive physical training (1.5 hours three times per week far a weeks). Summary of Background Data. Nonrandomized studies conducted in the United S tates favor functional restoration for patients with chronic low back pain. Two previously reported randomized studies from the authors' Back Center i n Copenhagen concur with this recommendation, although the positive effects in one of the studies had faded out after 2 years. Randomized functional r estoration studies in Canada and Finland have failed to demonstrate any sub stantive effect. Methods. Initially, 138 patients with chronic low back pain were included i n the current study. They then were randomized to either functional restora tion (n = 64) or outpatient intensive physical training (n = 74). Of the in itial 138 patients, 11 never started (5 and 6, respectively); 21 dropped ou t during treatment (8 and 13); and 7 of the graduates did not take part in the I-year follow-up evaluation (3 and 4). The conclusions were drawn from the 99 patients (48 and 51, respectively) who graduated and participated in a 1-year follow-up evaluation. The median age of the patients was 42 years (range, 21-55 years) The female-to-male ratio was 68 to 31, and the median sick leave days during the preceding 3 years was 180 (range, 0-1080 days). The average back pain was rated 5.5 on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (maxim al pain). For these variables, there were no important differences between the groups. However, the functional restoration group tended to be more cap able of work at baseline (58% vs 42%; P = 0.09). Results. At the 1-year follow-up evaluation, overall assessment favored fun ctional restoration. Otherwise, no significant differences were observed re garding work capability, sick leave for those at work, health care contacts ,back pain, leg pain, or self-reported activities of daily living. Conclusions. Only in terms of overall assessment, the functional restoratio n program was superior to a comparatively short time-consuming outpatient p hysical training program. Discussion. It may be that lower economic benefits during sick leave in the United States lead to favorable results from functional restoration progra ms, whereas greater benefits in Canada, Finland, and Denmark result in diff erent conclusions. Finally, it may be that the difference in results across studies points simply to whether the studies were randomized.